When social media first arrived on the scene over a decade ago, employers were understandably concerned with issues surrounding social media use in the workplace. These issues included the potential for negative impacts on employee productivity and the use of company time and resources for accessing social networks, as well as concerns relating to the disclosure of confidential information and negative, disparaging, or hateful comments made about the organization or its stakeholders. While these issues and concerns remain, we now recognize that social media is here to stay – and the focus has shifted from attempting to limit employees’ use of social media to an approach focused on ensuring that use is appropriate and leveraging social media for business purposes. At the same time, the distinction between employees’ work and social lives is becoming increasingly blurred, and employers find they need help and guidance to develop appropriate policies governing social media use in the workplace.

Human Resources Guide to Social Media in the Workplace: A Canadian Perspective is a practical guide that provides practitioners (especially in human resources, marketing, and communications, as well as employment lawyers and in-house counsel) with guidance in managing the use of social media in the workplace and drafting effective employment policies. Through concrete examples and illustrations derived from case law across Canada, this book provides information on the risks relating to the use of social media and the Internet in general in an organizational context. It also covers the legislative framework and provides practical guidance and information on best practices for managing social media in the workplace. The book covers issues such as the explosion in the use of social media, the proliferation of mobile devices and apps, big data, privacy and confidentiality, non-solicitation agreements, online reputation management, blogging, social media use for business purposes, social media policies, the role of various stakeholders, managing comments from third parties, avoiding conflicts of interest, managing off-duty conduct, and emerging discussions surrounding work/life balance and the right to disconnect after hours.

A similar book by the same authors is also available in French. Learn more>

À propos de l'auteur

Didier Dubois, CPHR, has a Bachelor's Degree in Social and Economic Sciences from France. He also has a Certificate in Industrial Relations from Université de Montréal as well as a Bachelor's Degree in human resources from HEC. He is also a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR). Didier has more than 20 years of experience in human resources. He worked for more than 10 years as a general manager of a CPE in Québec's Centres de la petite enfance network (Centres for Early Childhood). After that, he became General Manager of Québec's Association provinciale des centres de la petite enfance (Provincial Association of the Centres for Early Childhood). After being in charge of Adecco Canada's Organizational Development Practice for many years and being a Practice Lead, Organizational Development for a human resources consulting group in Montréal, Didier co-founded in 2006 and currently manages HRM Groupe. This HR marketing consulting group specializes in coaching organizations to help them improve human resources attraction and retention. Didier also taught in various colleges and at UQAM. He authored many articles on human resources and gives many presentations across Canada for a variety of organizations, associations, and businesses. Didier co-authored the book “Comment attirer et fidéliser des employés”, published by Édition Transcontinental in 2009, as well as “RH 2.0 : Guide de survie pour recruter sur le Web”, published in 2010, “Comment bâtir votre politique d’utilisation des médias sociaux”, published in 2011, “Comment bâtir la section carrières de votre site Web”, published in 2012 and “Comment bâtir une offre d’emploi accrocheuse”, published in 2013 by Éditions Yvon Blais (Thomson Reuters). Didier also co-founded the e-magazine FacteurH.com.

Emilie Pelletier, M.Sc., CPHR, has a Degree in Communications from Université de Montréal and completed a research paper on recruitment marketing as part of her Master's Degree at HEC. She is also a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR). After teaching for many years abroad, Emilie worked in a recruitment firm in Montréal, where she developed her expertise in communications issues pertaining to the recruitment field. She then co-founded HRM Groupe in 2006 and now works with businesses in various fields as a communications and recruitment marketing consultant. Emilie contributes to multiple publications by writing articles focusing on HR marketing and is highly sought after as a presenter on this topic across Québec. Emilie co-authored the book “Comment attirer et fidéliser des employés”, published in 2009 by Éditions Transcontinental as well as the books “RH 2.0 : Guide de survie pour recruter sur le Web” published in 2010, “Comment bâtir votre politique d’utilisation des médias sociaux”, published in 2011, “Comment bâtir la section carrières de votre site Web”, published in 2012, and “Comment bâtir une offre d’emploi accrocheuse”, published in 2013 by Éditions Yvon Blais (Thomson Reuters). Emilie is also co-founder and chief editor of the e-magazine FacteurH.com.

Katherine Poirier, LL.B., CPHR, practises labour and employment law and is a partner at Border Ladner Gervais. She also works in the area of occupational health and safety, particularly regarding workplace accidents. She has been a Certified Human Relations Counsellor since 2007. She advises and represents organizations in every aspect of the employment relationship (including contract negotiation and termination, recourses instigated by employees, management of workplace harassment complaints, workers’ compensation issues, occupational health and safety, review and implementation of employment policies, relief of violation of the duty of loyalty and non-competition, negotiation and interpretation of collective agreements, grievances, human rights, commercial fraud, business immigration, etc.). She has published and collaborated on several articles and books regarding the use of social media in the workplace, including “Comment bâtir votre politique d’utilisation des médias sociaux,” published in 2011 by Thomson Reuters, and "L'utilisation de la preuve recueillie par l'entremise des médias sociaux en arbitrage de griefs," which she co-authored with Justine Laurier in Arbitrage de griefs – Deuxième Colloque, Vol. 20-2014, Éditions Yvon Blais, Montréal, pages 165 – 226. She is a regular contributor to the e-magazine FacteurH.com.